Floods continue in many provinces as weather bureau warns of more rain

UBON RATCHATHANI, Sept 20 Many provinces across the country have been hit by flooding, and the meteorological department warns of more rain to come from today 20 through Friday.

In the northeastern province of Ubon Ratchathani, residents of some 1,600 households evacuated to higher ground at roadsides as the water level in the Mun River continued to rise and overflowed its banks, flooding the provincial seat and Warin Chamrap district.

Meanwhile, the Mekong River was rising, about to overflow, causing difficulties in diverting water from the Mun River into the Mekong.

In Chaiyaphum, the swollen Chee River has inundated the provincial seat for more than one week. A two-kilometre section of the Chainyaphum-Seeqew Road, the main road leading to the capital, has been under some 50cm of water.

The flooding extends to the towns business district and market traders doubled their commodity prices.

In Nong Khai, heavy rain Monday night triggered flooding in the provincial seat.

Heavy rain and small capacity drainage ditches in Nong Khai municipality led to a slow release of flood water into the Mekong River, resulting in flood conditions in the city and its business district half a metre deep.

Local residents built sandbag embankments as the roads are higher than their homes, and many shops have been damaged.

In August, the business district was impacted tropical storm Nock Ten, with the flood causing damage in excess of Bt100 million, and businesses and residences have yet to be rehabilitated in the wake of the last round of storms and floods.

In Mahasarakam, Worawarat Prawalpattamakul, an irrigation project director, said the Chee River has risen at an average of 10-15cm per day for several days. The high water level poses flood threat to low-lying areas and the situation has been closely monitored as the weather bureau has warned of heavy rains. The rising water in the Mun River can flow in reverse into the Chee River.

More ! than 13, 000 households in Mahasarakams six districts have been affected by flooding with 48,000 rai (about 19,000 acres) of crops were damaged so far.

In the southern province of Trang, So Hemkul, an official of the local disaster prevention and mitigation office said that incessant heavy rain triggered flash flooding in Huai Yot, Kantang and Wang Wiset districts, affecting over 10,000 residents, or over 2,000 homes.

A police station, a school and a temple in Wang Wiset have been flooded.

In Sikau district, at least ten schools are temporarily closed due to the rising water, with the flood level in some areas as deep as two metres.

One village road was washed away by the flood. Two homes were destroyed and three others were damaged. Scores of people are stranded in their homes as boats cannot reach them due to the swift flowing water.

The Meteorological Department Tuesday warned that more rain and isolated heavy rain is likely over the Central region, the lower Northeast, the East and the South west coast this week, through Thursday.

The weather bureau said a ridge of moderate high pressure area from China covers upper Thailand, with the monsoon trough moving across central Thailand. The active southwest monsoon also prevails over the Andaman Sea, southern Thailand and the Gulf of Thailand.

Residents of lowlands along foothills and near waterways are warned of possible flash floods. Winds and waves in the Andaman Sea and the upper Gulf are expected to be 2-3 meters high. Shipping is advised to proceed with caution, and small boats remain ashore in the following 2-4 days. (MCOT online news)